Of the 39 high schools in the Commonwealth to earn a 2015-16 Claudia Dodson Virginia High School League (VHSL) Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award, eight were from Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS).
According to the VHSL, the annual award recognizes member schools that have established policies and procedures that make sportsmanship a priority and an expectation within the school and school community.
New this year was an added component to the award, which required each school to solicit and have submitted on their behalf recommendations from three schools with which it routinely participates and compete against.
“I consider this to be the Virginia High School League’s most prestigious award,” VHSL Assistant Director Tom Dolan said in a press release. “It’s the only award that the entire school is graded on.”
This year, First Colonial High School, Green Run High School, Kellam High School, Kempsville High School, Landstown High School, Ocean Lakes High School, Princess Anne High School and Tallwood High School received this award. For Ocean Lakes and Princess Anne, this year marked the 18th year both schools have been awarded the honor. This is more than any other school honored this year.
There is no limit to how many schools can be honored in one year. Schools qualify for the award by completing a self-assessment checklist that includes questions regarding coaches, student-athletes, parents and spectators. Schools also have to account for any student-athlete or coach ejections that took place during the year or any inappropriate behavior at state championship events.
For the complete list of all Virginia schools to earn the honor, see below. For more information about the award, visit the VHSL website.
2015-16 Claudia Dodson Virginia High School League (VHSL) Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award Winners:
Auburn
John S. Battle
John I. Burton
Caroline
Central-Woodstock
Chilhowie
Christiansburg
Dominion
Eastern Montgomery
First Colonial
Forest Park
Fort Defiance
Gate City
Glenvar
Granby
Green Run
Hickory
Holston
Kellam
Kempsville
King William
Lakeland
Lake Taylor
Landstown
R.E. Lee-Staunton
Lord Botetourt
Maury
William Monroe
Northwood
Oakton
Ocean Lakes
Phoebus
Princess Anne
Radford
Tallwood
Booker T. Washington
Western Branch
Wilson Memorial
York